Former UF President Ben Sasse has pancreatic cancer

Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska who became president of the University of Florida, announced online Tuesday that he’s been diagnosed with metastasized, Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

“Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all. Still, I’ve got less time than I’d prefer,” Sasse, 53, posted on X. “This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad.”

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Sasse, a Republican, entered the U.S. Senate in 2015 before resigning to become UF president in February 2023. He resigned as UF president in July 2024, saying he was stepping down because of his wife’s health.

Media reports later raised questions about spending by the president’s office during Sasse’s tenure, though he disputed the reports.

Sasse continued to teach at UF’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. In the X post, he said he has stepped back from public life “and built new family rhythms.”